# Mala smoked duck tofu noodle protein box near Gongdeok Station

- By Jiyeon P. (https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-cafe-stoop/)
- Written Sep 7, 2026
- Local places › Restaurants › Mapo, Seoul
- Sponsored: This is a review from a visit where the products were provided by the restaurant.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-cafe-stoop/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seoul-cafe-stoop/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/index.md)

## In short

Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is a diet meal restaurant on the basement level of the Lotte Castle President building, connected to Exit 2 of Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. The chicken light and mala smoked duck tofu noodle protein boxes were packed to go and eaten the next day, staying fresh after refrigeration, with sous vide chicken breast that wasn't dry at all. If you love mala (numbing spicy) flavor and are tired of bland diet food, the mala protein box is worth trying.

## Good to know

- **Location**: Connected to Gongdeok Station Exit 2, B131, basement level of Lotte Castle President (between an optician and Subway)
- **Ordering**: Kiosk order: choose protein → base → sauce → extra toppings
- **Order placed**: 1 Chicken Light Protein Box, 1 Mala Smoked Duck Tofu Noodle Protein Box (takeout)
- **Chicken Light**: 281 kcal / 43g protein
- **Protein portion**: 150g+ of meat; most menus have 20–50g protein per meal
- **Sauce**: One included dipping sauce per protein box · wasabi mayo, honey mustard (staff pick), etc.
- **Sides**: Soup, Greek yogurt, protein cookies
- **Events**: Naver receipt review event, prepayment event

*as written by the visitor on Sep 7, 2026*

It was such a heatwave this summer that,, (?) my diet ultimately failed,,,😂 Diet starts from fall,,,🍁🍂

I had plans with friends that evening for a famous grilled skewer place in Mapo, so I told myself 'eat well today, and out of conscience, eat salad tomorrow,,,' and went looking for a salad place,,,,

Wait, what's this? There's the famous salad diet restaurant Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch! 🤩

Actually, I'd seen Why Starve Diet on social media before and thought 'how can salad look this pretty,,,?' — it was the brand that first made me want to try eating salad🧡 I'd always wanted to visit but was sad there was no branch in my neighborhood🥹

But to run into it right at Gongdeok Station!! This must be fate haha,, I finally got to visit Why Starve Diet, the place I'd been curious about 💚

## Location of Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch near Gongdeok Station

> Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch / 109 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Lotte Castle President B1, B131

Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is located on the basement level of Lotte Castle President, connected to Exit 2 of Gongdeok Station haha. Just go through the passage between the optician and Subway and you'll find it easily :)

Isn't the bright orange storefront so pretty :)🧡

Why Starve? Why go hungry? I came here to eat you!!!!

![Orange-toned exterior of Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-01-2duf0-900.webp)

![Store entrance on the basement level of Lotte Castle President](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-02-l5ihu-966.webp)

## What's the vibe inside? Solo dining is fine too

The orange-and-white color combo caught my eye the moment I stepped in! 🧡🤍 Clean but playful, and with retro posters and clear chairs added on top, it really had that kitschy, of-the-moment diet meal restaurant vibe going on!🫧

It also looked great for eating alone :)

![Interior decorated in orange and white](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-03-1o4rd-874.webp)

![Seating with retro posters and clear chairs](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-04-1yams-900.webp)

You order via kiosk! ✅ Don't forget there's a Naver receipt review event and a prepayment event too, so make sure to grab the perks!!

![In-store ordering kiosk screen](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-05-1khje-900.webp)

## How to order a protein box and menu breakdown

Scanning the menu, there were way more options than I expected! The signature protein boxes stood out right away — made with chicken, smoked duck, beef, salmon, or mala. You just pick your own combo in order: protein ➡️ base ➡️ sauce ➡️ extra toppings!

> ⭐ How to order at Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch

![Guide image showing how to order a protein box](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-06-17jxf-861.webp)

So that's why the salads look so pretty,,,🥗❣️ Why Starve Diet is amazing for picking exactly the combo you like! Great price range too, and the sides go all the way from soup to Greek yogurt to protein cookies — way more choices than I expected :)👍🏻

![Menu board for choosing the protein in a protein box](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-07-1mtie-900.webp)

![Menu board for choosing base and sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-08-1ivbc-900.webp)

![Menu board showing extra topping options](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-09-1f01y-900.webp)

![Sign for sides like soup and Greek yogurt](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-10-c1f3l-900.webp)

![Menu board for sides including protein cookies](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-11-p6kmn-900.webp)

I got the classic Chicken Light and one Mala Smoked Duck Tofu Noodle Protein Box, both packed to go!! Salad plus mala combo,, unbelievable,,,,❤️🔥

![Sign listing dipping sauce options](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-12-1d4xt-900.webp)

### How do you pick the sauce and toppings?

You have to choose one basic dipping sauce per protein box, and you can also add or remove toppings as you like :) ⭐Totally customizable salad!⭐ I asked for wasabi mayo plus the staff's recommendation, and they gave me honey mustard, which pairs best with the duck!

150g or more of protein meat — this really is a protein bomb💪🏻💣 Checking the nutrition label, most meals really do pack in a solid 20 to 50 grams of protein!

There's also a range of bases so you can pick according to the calories or diet you're going for that day👍🏻 If you ate hard (?) the day before like me and want something light out of conscience the next day, go for the light menu! And if you still want a hearty meal, the pasta or oat options should work well haha🤤

![Two packed protein boxes](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-13-ox83z-900.webp)

## Does it stay fresh if you pack it and eat it the next day?

My beautifully packed salads,, why do they look so delicious,,,????

I enjoyed Mapo grilled skewers that night,,, put the boxes in the fridge, and opened them up the next day! Still very fresh >,,<🤍

![Protein box opened after being refrigerated](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-14-1gjj9-900.webp)

![Salad contents shown with lid removed](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-15-znizd-900.webp)

![Protein box served with dipping sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-16-12rdh-900.webp)

## Chicken Light Protein Box: 281 kcal, 43g protein

First up is the Chicken Light Protein Box!

![Full view of the Chicken Light Protein Box](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-17-11cru-966.webp)

The classic Chicken Light,, 🍗💛 Low calories (281 kcal) but high protein (43g), which felt like a great one-meal option while dieting!!!

![Close-up of sous vide chicken breast](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-18-v2rpe-899.webp)

Wait,, why is the chicken breast this soft,,? I actually really don't like dry chicken breast,, but there was something different about Why Starve Diet's chicken, so I checked — it's cooked with steam and sous vide, and it was truly moist and tender ㅠㅠ 🤤 Dipped in wasabi mayo, I was like, is this really diet food??? haha

![Salad with green beans, chickpeas, and olives](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-19-1wxj0-900.webp)

Inside there were so many different vegetables — green beans, chickpeas, olives, broccoli, and more,, I got really full off it,,🤫

## How does the mala smoked duck tofu noodle protein box taste?

And the next day, the Mala Smoked Duck Tofu Noodle Protein Box! I'm a total mala fanatic haha,, I thought 'no way I can have mala while dieting' but wait, what,, mala in a salad,,😳❤️🔥

Under the moist smoked duck, there's a really thick pile of tofu noodles,,!! And they're coated in mala sauce too,, isn't this basically mala xiangguo?? hahahaha

The distinctive numbing-spicy mala flavor paired so well with the savory, salty richness of the moist smoked duck! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 The mala flavor wasn't overpowering, just subtle enough — guilt-free and just right❣️

![Mala Smoked Duck Tofu Noodle Protein Box](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-20-4yijv-900.webp)

![Smoked duck placed on top of tofu noodles](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-21-bfg9n-900.webp)

But seriously, the duck,, so delicious,, how is it this moist? The tofu noodle portion was really generous too, and the sauce coated it so well that eating it together with the smoked duck cut through the richness and made it even more!! delicious!🤤

![Close-up of mala-coated tofu noodles](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-22-o8ev5-900.webp)

![Smoked duck and tofu noodles picked up together](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-23-1o9or-900.webp)

## Who would I recommend this to

If you love mala!! If you're sick of boring diet food! You have to try the mala protein box at Why Starve Diet❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥

Dieting isn't just about starving yourself or eating less, right? With Why Starve Diet's protein boxes, you get good nutrition and food that's fun to look at and delicious to eat!

If you're like me and find it hard to give up a delicious meal while dieting, I totally recommend managing your diet the easy way with Why Starve Diet!!🥗🥗🥗🧡🤍

![Table setting with two types of Why Starve Diet protein boxes](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box-24-qbs51-1200.webp)

## Where it is

- Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch (와이스타브 다이어트 공덕본점)
- 109 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Lotte Castle President B1, B131, South Korea
- 서울특별시 마포구 마포대로 109 롯데캐슬프레지던트 지하1층 B131호
- 37.5447098, 126.9504093
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%99%80%EC%9D%B4%EC%8A%A4%ED%83%80%EB%B8%8C%20%EB%8B%A4%EC%9D%B4%EC%96%B4%ED%8A%B8%20%EA%B3%B5%EB%8D%95%EB%B3%B8%EC%A0%90/@37.5447098,126.9504093,17z

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Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-cafe-stoop/gongdeok-salad-mala-duck-tofu-noodle-protein-box/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt